Lummi Nation member who assaulted intimate partner sentenced in federal court
A member of the Lummi Nation was sentenced to 51 months in prison in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Friday for an assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Jason Sieber Sr., 50, repeatedly assaulted his then-intimate partner on Oct. 20, 2023, according to court documents. Sieber was angry at how long it was taking her to make him dinner, court records state, and began slapping and punching her in the head.
The woman tried to flee from the home on the reservation but was dragged back inside. Sieber continued to assault her by punching her, burning her with a cigarette and strangling her for at least a minute, court records state. He also tied her feet to hooks in the bedroom ceiling, leaving her hanging upside down for 45 minutes.
The woman eventually escaped, ran to a neighbor’s house, and went to the emergency room in Bellingham two days later. She had multiple facial fractures and swelling on her neck, according to court records.
Sieber was arrested on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault by strangulation on Oct. 31, 2023, and was released from Whatcom County Jail a week later. While out of custody, Sieber violated a protection order and threatened his partner to convince her to change her statements to police. He was arrested for violating the protection order on Jan. 9, 2024. A judge subsequently determined that Sieber tried to obstruct justice. He was charged federally the following month.
Sieber accepted a plea agreement June 13, pleading guilty to the amended charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Sieber’s mother, son and the woman he was unofficially married to but ultimately separated from all submitted letters in support of Sieber to the court. All three mentioned Sieber’s struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. According to court records, Sieber was drinking at the time of the assault.
Sieber’s sentence includes three years in community custody following his release from prison.